will grass provide enough energy for comps etc?

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posie_honey

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question in title really!

my horse is a good weight (3/5) and average fitness (40mins trot/canter hill work as an example day's work) - but i'm wanting to increase fitness for increased stamina for xc/jx and hunting - can grass alone provide enough for her do you think? (multi vits, soya oil and joint supp fed in handful of chaff
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will a hard feed help her stamina/muscle gain more? i've never had a good do'er like her before - last horses have been bad do'er TB's so needed feeding lots!

Thank you
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my good doer lived out 24/7 on reasonable grass but when he was eventing at Novice level he also got about a scoop of D&H Staypower Museli everyday.
he was doing quite a bit more work than yours then though which also helped with his stamina.

when he was doing PN he was on pasture mix.

he always looked like a show hunter, not an eventer, but he did fele like he had more stamina on the D&H feed.

i wouldn't have bothered for local level shows though as he had enough energy for that- it was only the longer xc courses that zapped him a bit.
 
thanks for that
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yup - i'm needing to increase her workload - but i've been waiting for farrier to put shoes on so i can do more... maybe i'll just try half a scoop of pasture mix a day and see how that helps as we do more
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ETA - to give you an idea - the pics in my sig (other than hunting pic
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Yes with the supplements you are using. Why not wait to see how he is when winter comes or you are competing, if he needs more give it then.

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i've got my fist comp this sunday
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(can you tell i'm a bit nervous? lol) but it was xc schooling last w/end that i wondered if as i up the work if i needed to add a hard feed for more energy as i do more...

i've just never had a horse who could live on air before like her! i suppose i just find it odd
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I am sure you will be fine. I would always err on the side of caution and not feed anything new. If you find he is lacking oomph this weeknd then revise the situation.
 
My mare hunted and competed all winter one year on a cup of balancer and a scoop of chaff with ad lib hayledge. It just depends on the horse in question.
 
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all depends on horse and the quality of your grass!

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I agree! Depends on the individual horse and the type and age of grass you have, the time of year and quantity of grass. there isnta yes or no answer. It could or it couldnt
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Agree that it will depend on a bunch of factors!

My pony gets quite a bit of work, and is only on grass/hay (and restricted grazing at that), and he's full of beans...suggest you don't add anything unless he seems to need it, as others have said.
 
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